Socialist Alliance targets public ownership

Socialist Alliance targets public ownership

While the two major parties are expected to dominate the vote on Saturday, the Socialist Alliance have put forward a candidate likely to stir debate.

Peter Boyle, the national co-convenor of the Socialist Alliance, has a strong history of socialist radicalism since the 1970s. He is hoping to raise awareness on the issues of refugees and climate change, while holding the Labor and Liberal Party to account.

The Malaysian migrant said he wants to shape the agenda for Sydney and leave an impression on public consciousness.

“We are actually trying to put on the agenda, not from an ideological point but from a point of view that it is a necessity … we can’t move forward on climate change or a series of other things unless we confront the interests of the mining companies and the banks,” he said.

Mr Boyle hit out at the campaign run by both major parties, insisting their campaigns have been frustrating for the public.

“They have been shadow boxing around the reality they have closed up their policies on their main issues to the point where they are arguing personality questions and whose numbers are right,” he said.

“They are avoiding a discussion about policies, which is frustrating people.”

Mr Boyle’s vision is to bring the mines, banks and energy industry under public ownership to address climate change and increase social investment.

When pressed whether his goals were more idealistic than realistic, he acknowledged it is difficult for the public “to conceive of taking these institutions into public ownership due to a fear they couldn’t be run democratically or efficiently”.

But Mr Boyle insisted the public should have the “confidence to shape and strengthen these institutions”.

“These ideas are just outside the square,” he said.

The Socialist Alliance have thrown their support behind Greens candidate for Grayndler, Hall Greenland, by not running a candidate in that electorate.

For the Sydney electorate, Mr Boyle remains realistic about his chances and said the campaign is an “introduction process and a calling card”.

“My objective is to use this to talk to people as a platform … we will be following this up in the local elections that come up next and then the state elections,” he said.

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